Chapter 376: Seems Like There’s Still Too Little Homework
Inside the royal palace, in the empress’s chamber.
“…I see.”
Huo Ningxue gently pinched her chin and pondered, “The national teacher means that the Demon Clan has already set up surveillance in the surroundings, planning something against the Holy Kingdom?”
“Yes.”
Young Master Sang lazily stretched while sipping tea and said, “If it weren’t for us Demon Cultivators cleaning up these spies for you, you’d still be on edge, wondering when the Demon Clan would suddenly strike. You couldn’t even sleep peacefully.”
“With the Shadow Demons used for communication gone missing, the Demon Clan must think something’s gone awry in the Holy Kingdom, even suspecting whether Li Shanyan’s death was suspicious. So they won’t act against the Holy Kingdom for a while.”
“All thanks to our friendly service from the Demon Cult, remember to reimburse us for the travel expenses, too.”
Huo Ningxue seemed to have not understood a word of that as she simply shook her head.
“Even though I don’t really get it… the national teacher will protect me, right?”
“I’ll rest easy leaving everything to the national teacher!”
…I mean, seriously.
With you trusting everything blindly like this, you might not even realize when I sell you off to be a maid one day while you count the money for me.
Young Master Sang found it somewhat speechless but had no way to handle Huo Ningxue, only able to sigh helplessly.
“However, if the national teacher wants a reward, I do have something.”
“Hmm? What is it, Your Majesty, struck it rich recently?”
“It’s from the head of Floating Splendor Commerce,” Huo Ningxue said. “Recently, they’ve opened up the Holy Kingdom’s market and signed some sort of treaty. They even gave the court a heap of stock rights and dividends.”
“Even though I don’t quite understand it, it seems like Floating Splendor Commerce is going to give me money for free, so I just agreed.”
Young Master Sang: “…It can’t be something about opening trade routes, designating shop streets as concessions, or establishing customs rights, can it?”
“Eh? How did the national teacher know?”
“…”
This kid is on the brink of losing the kingdom.
Luckily, Floating Splendor Commerce seems to take Young Master Sang’s face into consideration and didn’t sign any outrageous unequal treaties or engage in despicable behaviors like dumping opium. Worst case, they’re just selling communication devices and such. And a large portion of the dividends from the Holy Kingdom areas went straight to the court.
Young Master Sang couldn’t even be bothered to find Bai Ming to hold him accountable. He was sure that guy still had some basic conscience and sense, despite being greedy for money.
After two years, when Huo Ming grows up, these absurd things won’t happen again.
“By the way, what does Xiang Zimo, the acting national teacher, do? Can he sign treaties with people? Isn’t he supposed to handle things?”
“National Teacher Xiang was the most supportive of signing the treaty at that time.” Huo Ningxue blinked her beautiful eyes, recalling, “It seems the commerce promised him an internal identity and account for ‘Original Immortal,’ and he hurried over to persuade me.”
“…” Young Master Sang’s lips twitched.
Playing with Original Immortal games.
“Speaking of which.”
Huo Ningxue had already shed her dragon robe and changed into light, fitted nightclothes. Her alluring figure was entirely visible in the candlelight, perfectly curvy.
“In the past few days, I finally learned how to use this communication device under Ming Ming’s guidance.”
She lay on the bed, holding the communication device with excitement, looking like a girl sharing secrets with her boyfriend:
“I discovered so many fun things in here!”
“Comic books, novels, and various short plays starring handsome gods and fairies… I’ve been so hooked these past few days!”
“Really?” Young Master Sang relaxed and casually chatted, “What does Your Majesty like to watch?”
“I love a comic and novel from an author named Gongzi Shuiming. It’s really interesting!”
Young Master Sang: “?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing… just thought you might unexpectedly get along well with someone at home.”
Huo Ningxue’s beautiful eyes slightly lowered, and she wore a sweet smile: “I really love those scenes in comics and novels where the main characters are in love.”
“That kind of hazy, innocent, and somewhat awkward romantic entanglement is truly captivating… I didn’t understand before, but now I see I was shallow.”
“Especially whenever I see the main characters kiss, it reminds me of that day by the cliff with the national teacher—”
After saying that, Huo Ningxue expectantly winked at Young Master Sang.
Young Master Sang awkwardly covered his face, feeling like he was watching a kid be led astray.
Bai Ming, oh Bai Ming.
What did you even teach this child!?
Seeing Young Master Sang not moving for a long time, Huo Ningxue puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction, and after a moment, she huffed softly.
“Even if the national teacher has resigned, my orders still count as imperial edicts, right?”
“Uh… that’s true.”
“Hmph. Then, Young Master Sang, listen to the decree!”
Young Master Sang could only respectfully bow and bitterly play along with her game.
“I command Young Aiqing Sang to quickly come to my side, serve me in changing clothes and sleeping, and kiss me for a duration of an incense stick. If the kissing isn’t enough by the time the incense burns out, then I’ll…”
After blushing and holding back for a long time, Huo Ningxue finally whispered, “…I’ll punish the national teacher to kiss another incense stick’s worth.”
Oh no!
Kissing isn’t better the longer it is!
Kissing until there’s not enough time for a stick before needing another… aren’t you just practicing lung capacity?
Young Master Sang looked like he was about to cry, but he could only comply with the orders.
To be honest, for a girl like Huo Ningxue, who freely and boldly expresses her feelings, Young Master Sang had no resistance at all.
After hesitating for a long time, Young Master Sang finally moved awkwardly to Huo Ningxue’s side.
Looking at her stunning, breathtaking face, the beauty spot between her brows, and her vibrant red lips, Young Master Sang could only swallow hard.
The usually majestic and dignified empress looked like a lovestruck girl ripe for the picking right in front of him.
Saying he wasn’t moved would definitely be a lie.
Taking a deep breath, Young Master Sang closed his eyes and leaned in for a passionate kiss.
The long-lost sweetness combined with Huo Ningxue’s slightly excited and shy whimpering seemed to make the candlelight in the chamber even more ambiguous.
It felt like they truly kissed for an entire incense stick.
So long that Huo Ningxue felt a bit dizzy and was panting, her skin flushed and glistening with sweat.
As their lips parted, a blushing Huo Ningxue’s eyes sparkled with affection. She gently tugged at Young Master Sang’s collar, her soft voice whispering:
“My next imperial decree… tonight, the national teacher shouldn’t leave, stay here to serve my bed, okay?”
“This—”
Before Young Master Sang could respond, Huo Ningxue was already impatiently reaching to remove his outer clothing.
Suddenly, a soft, delicate voice came from the door: “Sister? Teacher Sang? Can I come in?”
Both of them froze at the same time, and Young Master Sang quickly straightened his disheveled clothes before rushing to open the door.
“Little Prince? Why aren’t you sleeping so late?”
“I…” Huo Ming held another copy of the book Young Master Sang gave him, softly saying, “It’s rare for Teacher Sang to come back, so I gathered a lot of questions about homework I wanted to ask him.”
“I just saw Teacher Sang hadn’t come out, and I was afraid if I waited too long, I’d end up sleepy…”
Young Master Sang patted his small head and turned to Huo Ningxue with an apologetic smile: “Your Majesty, you see?”
Huo Ningxue stared at Huo Ming with a calm expression.
For some reason, being stared at like that by his own sister made Huo Ming shiver involuntarily.
“Min Min.” Huo Ningxue’s voice was calm and sweet, with no hint of emotional fluctuation, “Do you have any homework questions to ask Teacher Sang?”
“Ah? Yes…”
“Unanswered homework means not enough done.”
Huo Ningxue said expressionlessly, “For the next three days, no communication devices allowed, and all assignments doubled. If you don’t finish, no food or sleep allowed.”
Huo Ming: “…Huh?”
